Mr. NTĐ. (77 years old, in Hanoi) has a habit of holding bamboo toothpicks in his mouth after eating, even when sleeping. This causes him to accidentally swallow the toothpicks without knowing it.
The old man is being cared for at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases after surgery - Photo: BVCC
About a month before being hospitalized, Mr. D. had a continuous fever with a dull, persistent abdominal pain of unknown cause. His family took him to a medical facility for examination, then transferred him to the Hepatobiliary and Digestive Surgery Center, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases for in-depth examination.
At the hospital, doctors comprehensively assessed the patient's condition. The results of a computed tomography (CT) scan showed that the abscess in the left lobe of the liver had grown to over 10cm, with a foreign object stuck inside - the cause of the prolonged infection.
Doctor Nguyen Minh Trong, director of the Hepatobiliary - Digestive Surgery Center of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: "After careful consideration, we decided to perform laparoscopic surgery to remove the left lobe of the liver to remove the foreign object and treat the abscess, preventing possible dangerous complications."
During the surgery, doctors discovered a large abscess, more than 10cm in diameter, located in the left lobe of the liver and attached to the small curvature of the stomach. Inside was a bamboo toothpick about 5cm long, deeply embedded in the liver parenchyma.
Fortunately for the patient, the abscess was still localized in the liver and had not ruptured, which could have caused peritonitis (which could have been life-threatening), which helped the surgery go more smoothly.
Doctors removed the left lobe of the liver along with the abscess and removed the foreign object. After surgery, the patient was alert, stable, and recovered quickly.
According to the medical history, the patient had a habit of holding a bamboo toothpick in his mouth after eating, even when sleeping. This caused him to accidentally swallow the toothpick without realizing it.
Because they are small, sharp and hard, bamboo toothpicks can easily penetrate the stomach wall and then travel to the liver, small intestine or colon. If not detected promptly, this foreign object can cause serious damage, leading to prolonged inflammation and the formation of dangerous abscesses.
How to prevent choking on foreign objects?
To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors recommend that people do not hold bamboo toothpicks in their mouths after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping.
Chew thoroughly before swallowing, avoid laughing, talking, watching TV or using the phone while eating to reduce the risk of choking on foreign objects.
In case of suspected foreign object ingestion, never poke your throat, as this may cause the foreign object to penetrate deeper into the mucosa or move to a dangerous location.
Absolutely do not use folk methods such as drinking vinegar or eating hot rice to try to push the foreign object down, because it can cause the foreign object to go deeper and cause serious damage.
When experiencing symptoms of prolonged abdominal pain and unexplained fever, you should go to a medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment.
Male patient suffered duodenal perforation due to swallowing a 5cm long bamboo toothpickSource: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-quen-ngam-tam-tre-cu-ong-phai-cat-bo-mot-phan-gan-20250310173617344.htm
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